Rotary disk slicer for slicing a plurality of rows of buns



Feb. 16, 1954 A s. SCHMIDT 2,669,269

ROTARY Dr'sx SLICER FOR SLICING A PLURALITY oF Rows 0F BUNs FiledDec.'8. 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet l Figi @106 @gat 6 1- t 26 26 JZbe'nSSC/imdb.

Feb. 16, 1954 A. s. SCHMIDT ROTARY DISK SLICER FOR SLICING A PLURALITYOF ROWS OF BUNS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 8, 1948 Fel 15, 1954 A. s.SCHMIDT 2,669,269

ROTARY DISK sLIcER FoR sLIcING A PLURALITY oF Rows 0F BUNs Filed Dec. e,194e e sheets-sheet :s

Feb. 16, 1954 A. s. SCHMIDT ROTARY DISK SLICER FOR SLICING A PLURALITYOF ROWS OF BUNS Flled Dec 8 l9-g8 6 Sheef.s-Sheel'I 44 117cm' SchmidtATTORN EY .I .11.1%.1' Tl... il?

Feb. 16, 1954 A. s. scHMlD-r- Y ROTARY DISK SLICER FOR SLICING APLURALITY OF ROWS OF BUNS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 8, 1948 ATTORNEY l:d @mw C n www Feb. 16, 1954 A. s. SCHMIDT ROTARY DISK SLICER FORSLICING A PLURALITY OF' ROWS vOF' BUNS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 8.1948 Patented Feb. 16, `1954 UNITED S'ATS PATENT OFFICE ROTARY DIsjKsLIoER FOR sLrcING A. PLURALITY or Rows oF UNs Albert kS. Schmidt,Harrisburg, Pa.

Application December 8, 1948, Serial No. 64,073

(Cl. 14S- 73) 10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to slicing machines and has particular referencevto a machine for slicing bakery products, such as buns, rolls, etc.

Frequently it is desirable 'to hslice wide nat rolls and long thinrolls, which are sometimes desig hated hamburger rolls and franlrfurterrolls, respectively, in such manner that the slice does not extendentirely through the roll, leaving a solid portion at one edge whichfunctions as a hinge for the separated portions of the roll. At the sametime it is often advantageous to slice the rolls entirely through theirbody portion, forming two separate land independent sections.

An object of this invention is to so arrange a slicing machine that itis adapted for use in conjunction with standard traveling conveyorscustomarily used in bake shops and may be used to sever or slice therolls completely into separate and independent sections or to sever thembut partially, leaving a hinge portion at one edge as described above.

Still another object Vof the invention is to speed up the process ofslicing rolls in the manner aforesaid and improve the efciency withwhich that operation is performed. To that end ,the invention embodiesmeans for slicing 'a plurality of rolls simultaneously and readilya'.:ljustable mechanism for adapting the machine to slice rolls ofdifferent dimensions, such as the two types referred to above.

Still another object of the invention is to eliminate spoilage resultingfrom faulty `slicing and tearing of the baked product, thus insuringuniformity of sliced product.

Imporatnt'features of the invention reside in the simplicity andlightness of the parts utilized, rendering adjustability for variouspurposes a simple and rapid operation and permitting easy cleansing ofthe machine and ready access to the various parts for repair purposes.

Various other objects and meritorious features of the invention will beapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with thedrawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughoutthe'several gures, and where- Fig. l is a top plan chine;

Fig.

view of my improved ma- 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation;

Fig. 4 is a section through 'i-ll of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section through 5-5 of Fig. 2; l Fig. 6 is a longitudinalsection through 13H-t of Fig. i; j

Fig. 7 is an enlarged .detail section of one of the moun'nes for thecutter discs v;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section through '8--8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of one important element of the machine;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a modified ararangement especially suitedfor handling roll clusters;

Fig. 10a is an enlarged section through one of its frame supportinglegs;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a section along l2-I2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a schematic View in perspective yof the slicing mechanismAand actuating means therefor;

Fig. 14 is an end view of the mechanism as set for handling large rolls,and

Fig. 15 illustrates the mechanism as set for handling small rolls.

The machine is adapted to be superimposed over a traveling conveyor I0on which rolls or other baked goods are fed to the slicing machine andsubsequently withdrawn for paolo. aging after the slicing operation hasbeen performed. The machine itself embodies a frame including duplicateoppositely disposed side walls I2 and I4. These walls are made of lightmetal and are preferably apertured as shown to reduce the weight of theelements as much as possible without sacrificing strength Wherenecessary. The two side walls are Secured together in spaced-apartrelation by a central tie rod l5 having reduced portions Iat voppositeends seated in openings in the walls and held therein by means of nuts2c. Each side Wall is provided at spaced points along its length and atthe top margin with inwardly extending support ing flanges 22 and 24which are adapted to support cross pieces to be described moreparticularly hereinafter.

The frame of the machine is pivotall-y secured at one end to a bedsupport 25 by hinge members 2r and the other end is supported bylegmembers 39 which rest upon the bed support. rlhe hingel members andleg members are oppositeli dspsed at each end of the frame and areboltedto the, lower corners of the side Walls through slots 32 and 34,respectively, in the hinge and leg mem.- bers. Securement to thesecorner supports through the slots 32 and 3&1 permits vertical'adjustment of the frame with reference to the bed support. The entiremachine may be pivoted about hinge members 2B. This facilitates readyremoval and substitution of parts in a manner and for a purpose to bedescribed more in detail.

Cross braces te and 4s. are secured; respectively, to oppostely disposeddanses .22 and 24 of the side walls as by means of bolts d2.. Centrallydisposed on cross brace 38 is a bearing assembly (see Fig. 7) in whichshaft 4t is vertically journaled. The assembly consists of a dependingcup 45 formed integrally with cross brace 38 and eX- ternally threadedat its lower end, the bottom of the cup being provided with an opening48 to receive the shaft 134. Upper and lower bearings t and 52 areseated inside the cup with the aid of a spacing collar 54, the centralportion of which is enlarged and provided at one point in its,circumference with a threaded opening 54 adapted to receive a set screw,thereby permitting vertical adjustment of shaft ltd in the bearingassembly. iAn opening 56 in an enlarged portion of the cup wall isadapted to receive a standard pipe plug 58 which may be removed toprovide access to the set screw when vertical adjustment of shaft 44 isdesired. Bearing cap 53 is bolted as indicated at 6| to the cross brace3S at the upper end of the bearing assembly. Packing material 63surrounds shaft 44 below the cup d6 and is held securely in position bypacking nut 55. This prevents lubricant from falling upon articlespassing through the machine.

Integral with shaft 44 adjacent its upper end is a pulley 6@ and thelower end of the shaft is enlarged as indicated at 62 and provided witha cylindrical opening to receive the spindle G4 of a cutting disc 65.The spindle may be secured in its seat at the loWer end of the shaft bymeans of a set screw 68, thus permitting substitution of cutting discsvarying in diameter or other characteristics.

Cross brace 40 is provided with two bearing assemblies designatedbroadly by the numerals 1U and 12, which may be identical in everyrespect with the assembly heretofore described in detail, for journalingvertical shafts 14 and l. These shafts are provided at their upper endswith pulleys 18 and 8B. An endless belt 82 eX- tending around the threepulleys permits all shafts to be driven simultaneously from a singledrive connection 84 which may be associated with one of the shafts, herethe shaft 44. Each of the shafts 'M and 16 is provided with meansheretofore described in conjunction with shaft 44 for detachablysecuring the spindle of a cutting disc to its lower end.

Pulley supporting shafts 86 and 88 arejournaled in the side framesadjacent opposite ends thereof in a manner clearly illustrated in Fig. 8wherein the end of pulley shaft 8E is supported in a bearing member 90which is positioned in bearing plate 92. The bearing plate is providedadjacent the opening in which the bearing 90 is received with anelongated slot 94 through which it is secured by bolt Sii to the sidewall Ill. By virtue of the elongated slot 94 in the bearing plate and anelongated opening 93 in side wall Hl through which pulley shaft 86passes, the bearing plate may be moved horizontally to adjust the pulleyshaft longitudinally of the frame for purposes more clearly to bedescribed hereinafter.

A series of four pulleys l are fixedly secured in spaced relation to oneanother upon shaft 86 by means of laterally extending hubs l 02 withwhich set screws are associated. A similar nurnber of pulleys 104 aresecured to pulley shaft 8S in the same manner and the pulleys of eachseries are longitudinally aligned with one another for the reception ofendless belts H36.

Pulley shaft 88 is extended beyond side wall I4 as indicated at m8, theextended portion of the shaft being adapted -for engagement orconnection with a power source which may be governed so that the linearspeed of the endless belts is such as to synchronize its movement withthat of the surface of the conveyor moving under the slicing machineframe and between its side walls.

An important feature of the invention resides in the fact that the belthas associated with it means whereby the article being conveyed underthe machine is positively engaged and held in position upon the conveyorsurface as it is moved by the latter past the cutting discs. Thisinsures a uniform out or slice and precludes the spoilage which occursif the article is permitted to move or change its position from acontrolled path in which it is directed past the slicing mechanism.Preferably this gripping or engaging means consists of a series ofspaced spikes or prongs Il extending outwardly from the belt and normalto the plane of its surface. Such an arrangement may be in the form of abelt comprising laminations |06 and |66", the heads H2 of the spikes orprongs being held firmly between the laminations as clearly shown inFig. 9.

Guides extending linearly along the side margins of the travelingconveyor and lying in a plane above the same are adjustably positionedby the frame and serve to control the path of the articles being fed bythe conveyor past the cutting discs of the slicing machine. In the formillustrated rods H4 are slidably received through openings in bosses lIt positioned near the base of each side wall at each end thereof, a setscrew IIB serving to fixedly position each rod within its supportingboss at any position to which it is adjusted. Knobs |20 and |22positioned on each rod H4 on opposite sides of its bearing in the bossserve to limit the sliding movement of each rod inwardly and outwardlywith reference to the frame side wall.

Secured to the inner ends of the rods H4 associated with each side wallis a guide member i24, the inner face of each of which is groovedlongitudinally along its median line as indicated at 26. Thus it will beseen that inward and outward sliding movement of the rods l H on eachrespective side of the slicing machine serve to determine the width ofthe passage through which articles being conveyed under the machine bythe conveyor is limited.

As has heretofore been stated, the machine is designed to slice articlesof varying size and configuration, particular attention being directedto the flat hamburger type of roll and the long narrow frankfurter typeof roll. The cutter disc drive shafts journaled, respectively, in thecross braces 38 and 4U are arranged in a particular configuration withreference to the belts H36 and their respective oppositely disposedpulleys i and l04. The drive shaft 44 extends between the two innermostbelts |66 and shafts 'M and 'i6 pass, respectively, through the twooutermost spaces between the four parallel belts. Thus the shafts 44, 14and It form the apices of a triangle lying in a plane transverse to theaxis of the shafts. The shaft M is designed to rotate a large cuttingdisc 66 and the two transversely aligned shafts 74 and 'i6 are designedto simultaneously rotate two smaller cutting discs such as 56. Asheretofore pointed out, all of the discs are detachably secured to thedrive shafts and the shafts themselves. are vertically adjustable intheir respective journals. When cutting the .largeflat type of. rollcommonly known as a .hamburger roll, particular reference vbeing made toFig. 4, the ltwo `smaller cutting discs 66' are uncoupled from theirrespective drive shafts 'i4 and 16 and 'the large disc 6B secured todrive shaft 4'4 is used alone. The rolls or buns |28 as they move onvthe conveyor ltoward the slicing machine are forced iriwardly by theflared end portions |30 of guides |24, which have been moved inwardly toprovide the proper marginal guides, so that two columns of rolls willmove under the two inner belts |08. As the rolls continue to moveforward, the engaging means or prongs H on the outer face of these beltswill move down into the respective rolls and, the belts |06 being drivenin synchronism with the movement of the conveyor, the rolls will be heldrmly upon the conveyor during their passage past the cutter disc `EJ-B.After passing through the machine the prongs move upward out ofengagement with the sliced rolls, which are carried on by the conveyorto some other 'point for a subsequent operation.

In the operation illustrated by Fig. 4, vthe rolls are so positionedthat the cutting disc slices only partially through each roll of eachparallel column of rolls, leaving a hinge portion |30. If the roll is tobe sliced entirely and no hinge portion provided, the guides |24 are setmore closely together, forcing the rolls of each parallel column movingunder the slicing machine inwardly so that the cutting disc 65 willslice through the entire body of each roll. The grooves |263 are in thesame transverse plane as the cutting disc and the peripheral margin ofthe disc may enter the grooves during the cutting operation when 'theguides |2l are set for the complete slicing operation.

Where relatively longr and narrow rolls, such as frankfurter rolls |29,are to be sliced, the cutting disc S6 is removed and the two smallerdiscs et' are secured to drive shafts 'M and '15. This operation isillustrated in Fig. and the guides 526i are so set that, as the conveyormoves the rolls under the slicing machine, each oi the four pulley beltsconstituting the gripping or positioning means independently engages therolls to form four columns. As explained with reference to Fig. 4, theguides |24 may be moved inwardly to compress the rolls of the fourcolumns somewhat more when a full-slice operation is to be performed andthe peripheral margins of the cutter discs 56' may penetrate into thegrooves |20 of the oppositely disposed guides.

By virtue of the hinge mounting of the entire machine at one end onhinges 2t, the machine may be lifted at the other end for readydetachment and attachment of the desired cutting discs for eachindividual operation. The vertical adjustability of the frame withreference to the hinge supports 28 and the legs 30 permits bodilyvertical adjustment of the entire machine and, of course, the verticaladjustability of each oi the drive shafts for the cutter discs allcombine to provide a wide range of adjustability for operating onarticles of diierent sizes and contours. This range is greatlyfacilitated for lateral or transverse adjustments by the readilyadjustable manner in which the guides IZ` are mounted.

From the foregoing it will be seen also that all parts are readilyaccessible for replacement and repair and easy access is provided forcleaning purposes. The weight of the machine is kept to a minimum byvirtue of the apertured side frames and the skeleton-like formationobtained by the two cross braces which provide the journals for thecutter disc drive shafts. The ready ad.A

6 instability of the pulleyshaft's 86 and 88 in fa longitudinaldirection .for tightening or loosening the belt |05 permits conformingthe gripping surfaces of the belts in the most feasible'manner with thearticles being passed under and along with it by the conveyor belt.

Frequently rolls are baked in groups or Vclusters as distinguished from'separate units. A cluster may'comprise a double row of the larger orharnburger rolls or a quadruple row of the smaller or frankfurter rolls.Under 'such circumstances it is desirable to provide means inconjunction with the vslicing niec'hanisrn heretofore vdescribed forsevering or separating, partially or wholly,

the units of these clusters prior to passing them through the horizontalslicing discs. The spindle oi' the horizontal slicing disc to whichadjacent rolls of the cluster are next subjected passes through thisline of severance.

In this embodiment improved means are also provided for quickly andeasily elevating the entire slicing head by manipulation of a singleadjusting element which raises or lowers the four corner supports of theframe. ln addition I have disclosed in conjunction with the arrangementillustrated in Figs. 10-15 means whereby the linear speedof the conveyorbelt on which the rolls are carried through the slicing machine isconformed exactly to the linear speed of the endless belts which engagethe top of the rolls to hold them rmly upon the conveyor support duringsuch passage.

Referring now particularly to the arrangement illustrated in Figs.10-15, rollers |40 and |42 are journaled at opposite ends of a bedsupport IM and serve to carry an endless conveyor lll@ upon which theroll clusters are moved through the slicing machine as heretoforedescribed. The conveyor is driven by motor |43 through a roller chain |5which passes over sprocket wheel |52 of the motor, an idler sprocket|515, and sprocket |55 secured to the end of the shaft upon which roller|40 is mounted.

The slicing head broadly indicated by the numeral |58 comprises a framein all material respects like that heretofore described in conjunctionwith the structure illustrated in Figs. 'l.-l0. The head is 'supportedby forward leg members |00 and rear leg members |62 which are secured insuitable fashion to the side walls of the frame of the slicing head. Theupper ends of legs are pivotally secured to the side walls of the frameas indicated at |64 and the lower end of said leg is pivoted at |56between the ends of a pair of levers |66.. These levers it are pivotedat their midpoints to a hanger l'lll secured to the bed frame |44 anddepending therebelow, the opposite ends of said levers being pivoted bymeans of a pin as indicated at |12 to the lower extremity of a link |14.

Concaved seats |63 are formed at the upper ends of rear legs |62 forreceiving enlarged heads |55 on the lower ends oi posts |51 which arethreaded through ilanges on the side walls of the frame. Posts |67 areheld in adjusted position by nuts ilo and the lower ends oi legs im arepivoted as indicated at |18 between a pair of levers it. Levers |80 arepivoted at their midpoints to the lower extremity of hangers |82 asindicated at Ulli and the opposite ends of said levers are pivoted bymeans of pin |12 to the lower extremity of link |14.

To the upper end of link llc is pivoted one end of a link |85, the otherend of this link being se" cured to a shaft |88 in such mannerthat thelink and the shaft rotate as a unit. The linkage arrangement at theopposite end of shaft |88, which lies outside the opposite side wall ofthe frame of the slicing head, is precisely the same as has beendescribed above, this construction being clearly illustrated in theschematic View afforded by Fig. 13.

Secured to shaft |88 at one end for rotation therewith is an actuatinglink |90 and the end of a threaded adjusting screw |92 is adapted tobear upon the upper edge of this link. The adjusting screw is threadedthrough a collar |94 secured to the bed frame |44 and may be actuated bya knurled hand wheel |96.

From the foregoing description the means for elevating and dropping theslicing head will be apparent, Upon rotation of the hand wheel |96, theend of threaded member |92 will move downwardly forcing with it theactuating link |90 and thus rotating the shaft |88. Rotation of Shaft|88 on downward movement of actuating link |90 rocks levers |68 and |80about their fulcrums at the lower ends of hangers and |82, forcing theouter ends of said levers upwardly and with them the legs |60 and |62which support the head.

On rotation of the hand wheel |96 in the opposite direction the weightof the head will force the outer ends of levers |68 and |80 downwardlyas the head drops, actuating link |90 being held in engagement with theend of adjusting screw |92 as the same moves upwardly during rotation ofhand wheel |96.

To compensate for the slight arc traveled by the outer and inner ends oflevers |68 and |80 I during their pivotal movement about hangers |70 and|82, these levers may be slotted to provide lost motion at their pivotalengagements with pins Hit` and |18 and at their pivotal engagement withpin |12 through which they are connested to link |14. This elevationadjustment enables the head to be positioned so that the discs arecorrectly located for properly slicing rolls of varying height orthickness. Threaded posts |61 provide for fine adjustment of elevationat the rear of the slicing head and, by virtue of the gravity supportthereof on legs |82, the entire head may be moved upwardly about pivots|54 to provide ready access to the slicing discs and the drivingmechanism therefor which lie inside the walls of the slicing head frame.

As described in conjunction with the arrangement illustrated in Figs.1-9, the spindle of a large horizontal cutting disc |98 is journaled ina bearing 200 positioned centrally of the head in a transverse directionand the spindles of two smaller horizontally positioned slicing discs202 and 204 are journaled in bearings 20S and 208 located in transversealignment adjacent one another rearwardly of the larger discbearing-20ll- The spindles of discs |98, 202 and 204 are removable fromtheir respective bearings and also adjustable as to height, asheretofore described. They are driven by a V-belt 2|0 which passesaround pulleys at the uppel` end of shafts likewise journaled inb-earings 200, 206 and 208 and which engage the spindles of thehorizontal discs. The v-belt is driven from a pulley 2|2 on the shaft ofmotor 2 4, all in a manner heretofore described in detail.

On the shaft of motor 2 |4 is another pulley 2 6 which drives a belt 2|8 passing over vertically offset guide pulleys 220 and 222 to drivepulley 224 which is mounted on drive shaft 226journa1ed transversely ofthe slicing head in the side walls of its frame.

Three drive pulleys 228, 230 and 232 are ixedly secured to shaft 226 forrotation therewith. These drive pulleys are spaced from one another in amanner to be described for a purpose which will be elaborated uponhereafter. A shaft 234 is rotatably journaled in the side walls of theframe of the slicing machine and a bifurcated arm 23t` is secured tosaid shaft centrally thereof for rotation therewith. Rotatably journaledbetween the free ends of the arms of the bifurcation is a verticalslicing disc 238 with which is integrally associated a drive pulley 240.The drive pulley of this vertical slicing disc 233 is rotated by a beltpassing around the pulley 240 and the central pulley 230 on shaft 226.

Transversely spaced vertical slicing discs 242 and 2.44 having pulleysintegrally associated therewith as heretofore described are rotatablyjournaled between bifurcated arms 246 and 248, the ends of these armsbeing secured to shaft 250 for rotation therewith. Shaft 250 isrotatably journaled in the side walls of the frame of the slicingmachine and these two vertical discs are driven by belts from pulleys228 and 232 lying on opposite sides of pulley 230 and, like it, beingsecured to shaft 226 for rotation therewith.

Thus it will be seen that the vertical discs 238, 242 and 244 are alldriven from the shaft of motor 2|4, as are the horizontally disposeddiscs |98, 202 and 204.

The vertically disposed discs may be elevated to any adjusted positionor to inoperative position when not in use by means of crank arms 2&2and 254, the former being secured to the end of shaft 234' which carriesdisc 238 and arm 254 being secured to the end of shaft 250 which carriesthe other two vertically disposed slicing discs. The free ends of crankarms 252 and 254, respectively, are provided with threaded pins 256 and258 which are movable inwardly and outwardly from the adjacent side wallof the slicing machine frame to position the shafts 234' and 250 so thatthe slicing discs carried thereby may be held in any desired elevatedposition, usually in such position that the cluster is severed betweeneach adjacent roll of a transverse row to a depth corresponding to thepoint where each roll is to be sliced subsequently by a horizontal disc.Under these circumstances rolls remain integrated in cluster form afterslicing.

It will be apparent that, when large rolls are being partially severedand sliced, as illustrated in Fig. 14, only the large horizontallydisposed disc |98 and the vertically disposed disc 238 will be inoperation. At this time the spindles of the smaller horizontal discs 202and 204 will have been removed from their bearings and vertical discs242 and 244 will have been elevated by manipulating arm 254 so that theywill not come in Contact with the large rolls passing along on theconveyor |46 through the slicing head. The vertical disc 238 will firstpartially sever each pair of the cluster as it travels through themachine and subsequently the horizontal disc |98 will slice them asdesired, either fully or partially to provide a hinge at one side, allas described in detail in conjunction with the embodiment disclosed inFigs. 1-9.

When operating on smaller rolls such as the frankfurter type, asillustrated in Fig. l5, the large horizontal disc |98 will have beenremoved from its bearing 200 and the single vertical disc on shaft -234will have been elevated to preclude its engagement 'with the rollspassing through the machine. Vertical discs 242 and 244 are in positionto sever, partially or wholly,l each of the ,pairs of rolls forming thecluster being fed through the machine, After the severing operationthetwo horizontally disposed discs 2Mv and 2M will slice each roll of each.pair precisely as described in conjunction withl the embodiment ofFigs. 1-9.

TheY belts by which the vertical knives are driven from shaft 2,26 areof the cylindrical rub ber type,v thus eliminating any need fordisengaglng the belts from the .pulleys on which they are mounted whenmoving the vertical discs to elevated or lowered position. Under suchVcirctunh stances the vertical discs are' driven at all times regardlessof the type of roll being severed and sliced,t although of course onlythe'large horizontal` discs |94 or the pair of small horizontaly discs202 and 201i are mounted in operative position at one time.

As. illustrated in conjunction with the earlier described embodiment,studded endless belts 26), of which there are four, are mounted onrollers 262 and 26d at yeacnend of the frame, the forward set'of rollers262 being'secured to driveshaft 266 which is rotatably journaled on theshaft and a sprocket Wheel 2li) secured for rotation-therewith. The arm268 may be spaced from the side wall of the-frame by spacer 212 andseparated from the sprocket wheelby a spacing. member 2li. Rotatablyjournaled in the outer or free end of arm 268 is a hub 21B integral withwhich are two sprocket wheels 21.18 andZii. Sprocket Wheel-28u engagesthat portion offroller chainitil lying between the idler sprocket 454and the conveyor drive sprocket 156, being tensioned thereagainst byyspring 281 with sulieient force to engage the chain and insure rotationlof sprocket 2te with movement of chain ISB and'consduent rotation ofsprocket 28 which in turn actuates sprocket .Zf'lto drive shaft 2%and-the endless belt roller supports-.- Inasmuch asthe dianieters of`conveyor sprocket (56 and-sprockets 25d; 213 and'zlare identical, as-arethe diametersof conveyor-'rolls Mii and Ill-2'vv andthe endless`'belt-"supporting rollers 262 and 2&4, the speed ofrtation'ofall'thesprocket'sandthe driven-rollers' vwill bathe same andconsequentlythelinear speed of tl'fleeridless (5()-1Vey0l 145' will beicllitiifi'alL with th linear Speeder'` the studdedendless belts 2t@wliicliengage andipenetrate the upper' surface of' rolls supported bythe endless conveyor as it nieves through the slicing machine.

Furthermore; by'reason ofvv this arrangement the slicing head I5S maybeelevated about pivots EGG without-in any way interfering with thedriving arrange'mentV ofV either' the conveyor iii-t' or the endlessbelts 260, thus facilitating rapid and facile mounting 'and'disrnounti'r'ig of thehorizontallysdisposed knivesfor iandlrigrolls fdifferent tynes.-

While Th'ave describe'da'preferred erbdiinnt ofthearrangement for"obtaining the". proved resnlts'her'ein outlined, variousinodicat'ionsmay be apparent to those-skilled the art and for that reason I wish tolimit myself only within the scope of.' Ythe appended,claims.` f

1. In combination with a traveling conveyor for carrying articles to besliced, a slicing machine comprising a frame supported to overlie saidconveyor, a shaft journaled in said frame for rotation about an axisnormal to the surface of said conveyor and lying between oppositelongitudinal margins thereof, a cutting discsecured to said shaft andlying in a plane parallel to the conveyor surfacev and spaced therefrom,said disc lying wholly within the opposite longitudinal margins 'of theconveyor, gripping means carried by the frame movable en Aopposite sidesof said cutting disc shaft insynchronisnr with the conveyor in a planeparallel to its surface and `on the opposite side of the cutting discJ-4for holding an article rmly on the conveyor as the disc passes throughit, and guides lyingin the plane of the disc and extend-ing parallel tothe edges of the conveyor surface on opposite sides thereof.

2, In a slicing machine the combination of a frame, parallelI pulleyshaftsv rotatably journaled in opposite sidewalls of the frameadjacentits ends, respectively, spaced pullyscarried by said shafts inlongitudinal alignment, respectively,

with one another, an endless belt having gripping elements on its out'er surface carried by each alignedpair of pulleys, parallel driveshafts journaled in said frame for rotation" about` axes par:- allel tothe plane of said pulleys, saiddrive shafts extending between said beltsand forming the apies of a triangle lying a plal transverse to the axes0f Said shafts and" between the pulley Shafts adjacent resptiv ds thefain, and means for detachably securing a cutting disc to @aan dni/estantestine disques outside the confines of the' belts' and in' underlying'relation thereto. j

v3, I slilg Iafchin th -lbatolfl 0f a ie, parallel pulley'shaftsfotvtably' jolld in opposite Side' Walls f the `flfal'rli adjacentits l'ds, lSpv'l'j, sifid plly Ga'llld by Said shafts in longitudinalalignment, respectively, with one another, an ndl'ss belt havinggripping elements on its iite'i" surface carried by each augned pair ofpulleys, 'pavauel drive shafts journaledin saidfraine for rotation aboutaxes parallel t th'p'lan f Said p iillyS, Said drive Shafts eit'dngbttv'eii Said belts and forming' the apic'es of a triangle lying iii aplane transvers'eto the' axes of said" shafts'and between' the pulleyshafts adjacentgrespecnve ends of the frame, two of saidd'riveshafts'lyg in a plane parallel to Said pllley Shafts" and. the thirdextending' betvveenthe two innermost seits, and means for de;-t'a'chably securing' a' cutting disc to each drive shaft niet the diselies outside the conne-es of the belts and 'in underlying relationthereto.

4. In a slicing machine the combination of a. frame, parallel pulleyShafts rotatably juraled in Opposite s'ide` w`a311s' Of the' frame'adjacenty its ends, respectively, spaced prillejfsV carried by saidshafts' in longitudinal alignment, respectively, with one another, anendless belt having gripping elements on its outer surface carried byeach aligned pail" f pll'yS, parallel drive Shaft .llf-

.ald i'r'ilsa'id frame for rotation about axesl para11`e1 to the planeYfsaid pulleys, sais drive shafts eitendingbetwen said belts' and formingthe apices'v of ai triangle lying in a plane transverse?v to the' aiesof said shafts and between the pulley shafts adjacent respective endsofthe frame, means for detachably-securinga cuttingdiseto each driveshaft sc that the disc lies outside the confines olf-the belts and inunderlying relation thereto,- andmeansforl rotating they pulley anddrive shafts.

5. A slicing machine for use in conjunction with a traveling conveyorcomprising a frame superimposing the conveyor, guides adjacent the frameextending, respectively, along each margin of the conveyor andadjustable transversely thereof to control the width of the passagebeneath the frame, a cutter disc parallel to and superposing theconveyor surface carried by the frame and wholly within the oppositelongitudinal margins of the conveyor, spaced parallel means carried bythe frame and overlying, respectively, opposed semi-circular portions ofsaid disc for fixing the position of articles on the conveyor during itspassage beneath the frame, and means for rotating said disc.

6. In combination with a traveling conveyor for carrying articles to besliced, a slicing machine comprising a frame supported to overlie saidconveyor, a shaft journaled in said frame for rotation about an axisnormal to the surface of said conveyor and lying between oppositelongitudinal margins thereof, a cutting disc secured to said shaft andlying in a plane parallel to the conveyor surface and spaced therefrom,said disc lying Wholly within the opposite longitudinal margins of theconveyor, and gripping means carried by the frame movable on oppositesides of said cutting disc shaft in synchronism with the conveyor in aplane parallel to its surface and on the opposite side of the cuttingdisc for holding an article ilrmly on the conveyor as the disc passesthrough it.

7. A machine for splitting buns comprising, an endless conveyor having ahorizontal upper flight, a pair of parallel spaced endless presserconveyors each having a lower horizontal flight aligned with and spacedfrom the upper flight of the first-mentioned endless conveyor a distanceequal to the average height of the buns, a splitting disc locatedbetween the upper flight of the rstmentioned conveyor and the lowerflight of the presser conveyor and parallel thereto, a drive shaft forcarrying the splitting disc and extending from above the lower flight ofthe presser conveyors between the same, the lower flights of the presserconveyors overlying chordial portions of the splitting disc on opposingsides of its axis to press the buns against the first-mentioned endlessconveyor while being cut, and a drive means for the conveyors andcutting disc.

8. A machine for splitting buns comprising, an endless conveyor having ahorizontal upper ight, parallel pairs of spaced endless presserconveyors extending longitudinally of and having lower horizontalflights aligned with and spaced from the upper flight of thefirst-mentioned endless conveyor a distance equal to the average heightof the buns, splitting discs located between the upper ight of thefirst-mentioned conveyor and the lower flights of the presser conveyorsand parallel thereto, there being one splitting disc for each pair ofpresser conveyors, drive shafts for carrying the splitting discs andextending from above the lower flights of the pairs of presser conveyorsbetween the two conveyors of each pair of presser conveyors, the lowerflights of the presser conveyors overlying chordial portions of thesplitting discs on yopposing sides of their axes to press the bunsagainst the first-mentioned endless con- `veyor while being cut, and adrive means for the conveyors and cutting disc.

9. In combination with a traveling conveyor for carrying articles to besliced, a slicing machine comprising a frame supported to overlie saidcon- 12 veyor, a shaft journaled in said frame for rotation about anaxis normal to the surface of said conveyor and lying between oppositelongitudinal margins thereof, a cutting disc secured to said shaft andlying in a plane parallel to the conveyor surface and spaced therefrom,said disc lying wholly within the opposite longitudinal margins of theconveyor, means carried by the frame movable on opposite sides of saidcutting disc shaft in synchronism with the conveyor in a plane parallelto its surface and on the opposite side of the cutting disc for holdingan article rmly on the conveyor as the disc passes through it, powermeans coupled with said conveyor for operating the same, and meanscoupling said power means with said article holding means for operatingthe latter.

10. A machine for splitting buns comprising a traveling conveyor, a pairof parallel spaced endless presser conveyors each having a lowerhorizontal flight aligned with and spaced from the traveling conveyor adistance equal to the average height of the buns, a splitting disclocated between the traveling conveyor and the lower flight of thepresser conveyor and parallel thereto, a drive shaft for carrying thesplitting disc and extending from above the lower flight of the presserconveyors between the same, means for adjusting said drive shaftvertically with reference to said traveling conveyor, the lower flightsof the presser conveyors overlying chordial portions of the splittingdisc on opposing sides of its axis to press the buns against thetraveling conveyor while being cut, and a drive means for the conveyorsand cutting disc.

ALBERT Si. SCHMIDT.

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